President Truong Tan Sang, his wife, and a senior delegation departed from Hanoi to Japan March 16 for an invitation from Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
This is the second time a Vietnamese president will have visited Japan in the last 40 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973. Former President Nguyen Minh Triet visited the country on November 2007.
Diplomatic relations between the countries remain strong in areas of economics, politics, and national defense.
In 2013, the two countries successfully organized Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year to celebrate 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Japan has been Vietnam's largest Official Development Assistance provider, investor, and fourth largest trade partner.
Japan pledged to provide Vietnam with US$23 billion ODA by the end of 2013. Total registered foreign direct investment capital from Japan reached more than US$34.5 billion.
Bilateral trade turnover was US$25.16 … [Read more...] about President visits Japan

A delegation of 11 renowned Vietnamese writers, performers and artists will visit Japan on March 27 at the invitation of the Japan-Vietnam Culture Exchange Centre and the Japanese International Exchange Foundation.
The group includes writer Nguyen Ngoc Thuan, translator Cao Viet Dung, literary critic Tran Huyen Sam, stage director and actor Thanh Loc, musician Duc Tri, singer Khanh Linh, directors Huynh Vinh Son and Nguyen Quang Dung, poet Nguyen Vinh Tien, journalist Do Thu Ha and artist Nguyen Nhu Huy.
They will meet with Japanese experts to exchange ideas and experiences over 10 days in fields such as stage, cinematography, painting and music.
The program aims to mark the 2nd anniversary of the establishment of the Japan-Vietnam Culture Exchange Centre in Vietnam. … [Read more...] about Vietnamese group to visit Japan for cultural exchange

One hundred young Vietnamese people and students will leave for Japan on June 17 to join an exchange programme between Japanese and East Asian youth.
During their 10-day exchange in Japan, the young delegates will visit Tokyo, some provinces and schools in addition to joining exchange activities and meeting local people and students.
National Committee for Young People General Secretary Nguyen Viet Phat said the programme will help boost Vietnam-Japan relations and increase mutual understanding among young people in regional countries.
Between late June and mid-July, Vietnam will send 200 more young people to Japan to join the programme, he said.
The exchange visits are run through the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youth, known as JENESYS programme.
JENESYS was initiated by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the second East Asia Summit which took place in the Philippines in early 2007.
Under the programme, which began in 2008 and will last for … [Read more...] about Young Vietnamese set to visit Japan on exchange

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will visit Japan from October 18-22 at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. This is the first official visit to Japan by PM Nguyen Tan Dung since he took office in July.
The aim of the visit is to confirm Vietnam's consistent policy of treasuring the relations of friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Japan, enhancing and developing bilateral cooperation in economics, trade and investment.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is scheduled to have talks with his counterpart Shinzo Abe, pay a courtesy visit to the Japanese King and meet with leaders of the Japanese Diet and representatives of major economic groups and organisations. … [Read more...] about Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to visit Japan